Festival Archives - Out! Raleigh 2012

Press about Out! Raleigh 2012

Under the Shadow of the Amendment One Vote,National Brands, N.C. Employers and Top Government OfficialsShow Support for the LGBT Community

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 24, 2012) — With the vote on Amendment One only three days after the OutRaleigh street festival in downtown Raleigh, some significant contributors to the North Carolina economy, including nationally recognized companies, are showing their support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by sponsoring OutRaleigh, a program of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. If passed, the amendment “could undermine private employers’ efforts to attract top employees to North Carolina by providing employee benefits to domestic partners, as the courts and public medical facilities may not be permitted to recognize those benefits,” according to a paper written by UNC School of Law professors. A copy of the report is available at the ACLU of NC website. Additionally, at the request of the LGBT Center and OutRaleigh organizers, Governor Beverly Perdue and City of Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane signed proclamations declaring the first week in May “All Families Matter Week,” in honor of OutRaleigh’s 2012 theme.

Of the event sponsors, companies headquartered in North Carolina include Accenture, Food Lion, R.A. Jeffrey’s, Replacements Limited and Workplace Options. Other substantial North Carolina employers sponsoring OutRaleigh include IBM and PNC. A full list of OutRaleigh sponsors is available at OutRaleigh.org.

“As a company whose services are focused on helping employees maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life, Workplace Options understands how important families are in the equation – not just some families as defined by Amendment One, but all families,” says Alan King, president and COO of Workplace Options. “Supporting OutRaleigh is a visible expression of our commitment to this principle. More importantly, it is simply the right thing to do.”

Only 48 percent of households in North Carolina are headed by married couples

Raleigh has the third-highest percentage of same-sex couples with children among metro areas that have a population of more than 1 million

Three percent of all foster children, currently live with LGB foster parents

These statistics are clear indicators of the public importance for festivals like OutRaleigh, which provide a family-friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all people to have fun and learn about issues affecting LGBT neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members. Copies of the proclamations are available by clicking here.

Occurring May 5 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown Raleigh at City Plaza, OutRaleigh will include guest speakers, more than a dozen performances from locally and nationally recognized entertainers, a KidsZone, and an expo area.

About LGBT Center of Raleigh: The LGBT Center of Raleigh is a non-profit organization that offers a supporting and welcoming space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as their friends, family and supporters. Their offices include a library, art gallery, coffee shop, meeting rooms and performance space. Open seven days a week, the center provides social, educational and health programs for all ages and affinity groups. These include youth programs, Gay and Gray, NAIL (No Accidents in Life), M Club, the Women’s Initiative, the Transgender Initiative, HIV /STD testing and the annual OutRaleigh festival. Visit www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.

DV8 to Share Anti-Bullying and Anti-Suicide Messages

RALEIGH, N.C., (April 2, 2012) — DV8, a group of teens from Burke County N.C., will be performing on the main stage of the OutRaleigh Festival (www.outraleigh.org) on Saturday, May 5, 2012. OutRaleigh is a program of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. The team of 12-18 year olds strives to be the change they wish to see in the world addressing issues of intolerance, inequality and rejection through song, dance, sign shows, and painting.

“DV8 is a group of ordinary teens from all walks of life with a powerful message for their peers and the adult community,” says Rusty Sutton, OutRaleigh Steering Committee member. “They are a perfect fit for a festival themed “All Families Matter.’”

One 14 yr old member of DV8 shared with the group, after rehearsals of an anti-suicide piece, that he tried to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. He said that the DV8 group is what gets him through when his parents “go nuts” on him, which is almost daily. You see, not too long ago he "came out" to his family and friends and it did not go well. To this day, his family has not accepted him for who he is. Research shows that as much as 40 percent of the homeless youth population is LGBT, many having been told to live somewhere else by family members or are treated so badly that they leave.

Formed from a youth club called the DASH Club, DV8 performances are unapologetic in their portrayal of bullying, teen suicide and HIV/AIDS. Unable to perform at local school functions, due to the nature of their performance material, the group has found a welcoming audience in the members of the local HIV/AIDS chapter. DV8 has written bios about kids who have been tested for HIV and what they were thinking about as they waited to hear the results; as well as performing educational panels staged in the form of a support group for people who are HIV positive.

Along with DV8, the OutRaleigh Festival will include entertainment performances throughout the day by local, regional and nationally known artists. The free, family-friendly event will also include comedy performances, speeches and DJ entertainment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

About OutRaleigh 2012:OutRaleigh, a LGBT Center of Raleigh program, celebrates the diversity of families in the Triangle region of North Carolina. With the theme of “All Families Matter,” the annual street festival will be held Saturday May 5 in downtown Raleigh. This family-friendly event provides a safe and welcoming environment for all people to have fun and learn about issues affecting neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The event includes guest speakers, live entertainment, a KidsZone and an expo area. Visit www.outraleigh.org.

RALEIGH, N.C., (March 22, 2012) — Who’s Bad, a globally-known Michael Jackson tribute band, will be performing at the OutRaleigh Festival (www.outraleigh.org) on Saturday, May 5, 2012. OutRaleigh is a program of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. The free concert will begin at 6 p.m. on the main stage at City Plaza in downtown Raleigh, N.C.

Who’s Bad (www.whosbadmusic.com) is the only tribute band that was created before Michael Jackson’s passing. Native to North Carolina, The band was founded in 2004 with its first performance occurring in Chapel Hill. Since then, Who’s Bad has played to sold-out audiences across the USA, England, Europe and China. This includes receiving an invitation to perform at London’s O2 Arena in December 2010, where Jackson was slated to end his career with a final performance of the “This Is It” concert series.

After experiencing a Who’s Bad concert in Nashville, Frank DiLeo, Michael Jackson’s friend and manager said, “The show was great … Michael would have been proud.” Who’s Bad has shared the stage with some of pop music’s biggest acts including Aretha Franklin, Boys II Men, The Backstreet Boys and The Four Tops.

Who’s Bad concert’s include choreography, costuming, full orchestration and vocals that duplicate, in detail, Jackson’s performances. The band pays tribute to Jackson with songs spanning his entire career from ABC to You Rock My World.

Along with Who’s Bad, the OutRaleigh Festival will include musical performances throughout the day by local, regional and nationally known artists. The free, family-friendly event will also include comedy performances, speeches and DJ entertainment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

About OutRaleigh 2012: OutRaleigh, a LGBT Center of Raleigh program, celebrates the diversity of families in the Triangle region of North Carolina. With the theme of “All Families Matter,” the annual street festival will be held Saturday May 5 in downtown Raleigh. This family-friendly event provides a safe and welcoming environment for all people to have fun and learn about issues affecting neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The event includes guest speakers, live entertainment, a KidsZone and an expo area. Visit www.outraleigh.org.